(PBA image)
CANDON CITY — The excitement surrounding the PBA ArenaPlus All-Star Weekend began long before the opening tip, as the league’s brightest stars stepped off the hardwood and into the community, kicking off the festivities with a series of outreach and fan-centered activities across the city.
Early Friday morning, players gathered at the Candon Eco-Tourism Park in Barangay Palacapac for a tree-planting activity alongside Candon Mayor Eric Singson and PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial. The initiative highlighted the league’s commitment to environmental awareness while bringing players closer to the local community.
Among those who rolled up their sleeves for the activity were Barangay Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar, NLEX’s Robert Bolick, Converge standouts Juan Gomez de Liano, Alec Stockton and Justin Arana, Rain or Shine’s Caelan Tiongson and Andrei Caracut, San Miguel’s Marcio Lassiter, and TNT’s Calvin Oftana. The players planted and watered young saplings, leaving behind a small but meaningful contribution to the city’s green spaces.
Marcial said the activity reflects the league’s ongoing effort to make the All-Star Weekend more than just basketball, emphasizing meaningful engagement with host communities.
“These activities allow our players to connect with the fans and the communities that support the league,” Marcial said, noting that the tree-planting was one of several outreach programs lined up for the Season 50 All-Star celebration.
Following the environmental initiative, the All-Stars headed to a special meet-and-greet session with children from the city’s Special Education (SPED) program. The interaction brought smiles and excitement to the young fans, with the event supported by ArenaSocial, Pocari Sweat, Molten, LGR, and the Tinapayan Festival organizers.
The festivities officially began Thursday with players visiting Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, where they engaged with students before joining a lively parade and motorcade that drew enthusiastic crowds along the streets of the city, known as the Tobacco Capital of the Philippines.
As part of the league’s community outreach, the PBA and its partner ArenaPlus also extended financial support to local schools, donating ₱300,000 to Candon South High School and ₱200,000 to Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College.
The opening night celebrations concluded with a spectacular drone and fireworks display held in front of Hotel Van Gogh near the Candon City Arena, setting the stage for a four-day festival of basketball and fan entertainment.
The festivities will culminate on Sunday with the highly anticipated North versus South All-Star showdown at the Candon City Arena, the centerpiece of the PBA’s milestone Season 50 celebration.